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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.